Veeeery interesting article about the "10 business moves of doom" by the WWE. The buyrate and ratings research was really well done. Thanks for the good read. Get on out there and see it if you haven't.

I'm in complete agreement, that was a really well put-together piece. I'm sure it helps that I'm pretty much exactly in line with Shapiro's thinking that the finish to WM2K was the beginning of the end and the foundation for a lot of the problems that followed and hang around today. I wish Shapiro would write more for the site.

Originally posted by chuckc14Veeeery interesting article about the "10 business moves of doom" by the WWE. The buyrate and ratings research was really well done. Thanks for the good read. Get on out there and see it if you haven't.

I wish it were longer.

Albert

"Hi, Mommy! I bet this is the first phone call you ever got from a tree."

Guys, that's really nice of you to say to me. I was trying to put everything in one long thing so I would never have to write about it again. STAY TUNED FOR PART 2, where I run all out of TV ratings love but compensate in unintentional pretentiousness with a ... st*r r*ting or two. Part 1 was like waiting in a fascinating line and part 2 is the rip-roaring waterslide sans water.

Great article Justin, I agree with 95% of what you wrote. A very informative look back. Thanks.

Just to support you on a few of the WWF Mistakes.

1. Having a main event match as a four corner match with a McMahon in each corner was a huge turn-off. Just how all the McMahons constantly put themselves over on camera was really annoying. Putting 4 McMahons in a main event helps ruin it, 1 is bad enough. Focus on the wrestlers.2. The love triangle angle was also botched by inserting Rock into the mix. At Summerslam 2000, The Rock faced Triple H and Kurt Angle in a three-way title match. It was a great match, but their was no reason to involve the Rock into this storyline.3. The biggest mistake of your top 10 has to be the colossal mistake of turning Austin heel at Wrestlemania. And keeping Triple H heel the next night. With the Rock gone, the WWF ruined all of their top draws.4. The biggest mistake you left out of your top 10 has to be the WWE letting Austin walk out. I donít care how difficult Austin was to work with. They gave him rotten storylines for months and he deserved better.

The one thing I must take a small issue with is calling the signing of the NWO a mistake. Now I agree that their introduction angle was badly botched and the No Way Out 2002 PPV was the worst of the year. Now signing Scott Hall was a bad idea from day one. Kevin Nash could have gotten over if he was healthy enough to wrestle. But, I can agree that they should have known his body would break down. But, signing Hulk Hogan was NOT a mistake. Hulk Hogan produced the best moment of the year in his match vs. the Rock. He is currently the biggest draw in the WWE aside from the Rock. They had to add him to the Raw roster the other week in MSG just to sell out the tickets. Hogan has given a rub to the Rock, Undertaker, Triple H, and Kurt Angle. He deserves to go out this way.

"I think the downfall began at the end of the Triple H-Steph-Angle Triangle"

You're not the only one.

"Did you get that from Meltzer?"

I used otherarena.com for the easily accessbile TV ratings and buyrates, and referenced a bunch of Observers from the last year and a half. Plus Dave is, like, my hero.

"I liked your use of Chris Jericho's debut monologue in the WWE."

Weren't Heyman's comments about Austin turning his back on Vince pretty CRA-ZY!

"2. The love triangle angle was also botched by inserting Rock into the mix."

I thought they were going to do a singles match at SummerSlam but then they delayed it by a month -- I think they wanted to combine the world title match with the hottest angle and passed on a Rock/Benoit rematch.

"The biggest mistake of your top 10 has to be the colossal mistake of turning Austin heel at Wrestlemania. And keeping Triple H heel the next night. With the Rock gone, the WWF ruined all of their top draws."

It was lunacy!

"The biggest mistake you left out of your top 10 has to be the WWE letting Austin walk out."

It's huge, it just happened at the end of the big slide I was writing about so the full effect hasn't been felt yet. I guess if I write this again at the fourth anniversary and nobody's over yet that'll be a big one.

"They gave him rotten storylines for months and he deserved better."

Word up.

"But, signing Hulk Hogan was NOT a mistake."

I agree. They just used him up too quick. Putting the title on him was the wrong move though.

I just lumped them all together under "signing the NWO" as a mistake when you consider that they probably could've compensated for Hall and Nash sucking by actually doing the angle right, since they were brought in for a temporary spike, but didn't even do that. So it was just a waste.

"Hulk Hogan produced the best moment of the year in his match vs. the Rock."

People really loved that. Just take out the part with the monster truck.

"Hogan has given a rub to the Rock,"

Well, Rock was already a bigger star than Hogan.

"Undertaker, Triple H,"

Well, they're already established.

"and Kurt Angle."

Yes indeed.

"He deserves to go out this way."

He's done wonders for his "reputation" by "doing business," as it is called in "this industry," as it is called.

You fine people are too kind. The real reward of writing this column: finally knowing what a government mule beating is all about, and like Prometheus, bringing that sacred knowledge to the brotherhood of Wieners.